44 



ground was used by the Irish, we learn from the Munster 

 book of battles, attributed to Mac Liag, a poet who died in 

 the year 1015, where it is recorded, that several of the chiefs 

 who fell at the battle of Clontarf were interred at Kilmain- 

 ham. 



In the hall of the Commander of the Forces is suspended 

 a sword of the same shape and character found in the old 

 burial ground, vulgarly known by the name of" Bully's Acre," 

 about forty years ago. In some adjacent fields, between the 

 immediate grounds of the Royal Hospital and the brink of 

 the river Liffey, about four years ago, some labourers, em- 

 ployed in raising gravel, discovered a skeleton, around which 

 were disposed a variety of weapons and ornaments ; they are 

 now in the possession of the Commander of the Forces, and 

 Mr. Smith had the advantage of inspecting them. They con- 

 sist of a sword, lance head, and brass or bronze pin, all of pre- 

 cisely the same form and character as that now exhibited to 

 the Academy. The total length of the sword is 3 feet 2 

 inches, the blade being 2 feet 8, and the handle 6 inches 

 in length ; the pin measures about 6 inches. There was 

 also found along with these a hatchet head, and some frag- 

 ments of iron, so much shattered and corroded as to occa- 

 sion some diflSculty in coming to the conclusion, which how- 

 ever may be just, that they once formed an iron skull cap. 

 Common rumour asserts, that the labourer, by whom these re- 

 mains were discovered, had also the good fortune to find with 

 them some ornaments of gold of considerable value ; which 

 fact, for prudential reasons, he kept profoundly secret ; but 

 its effects became speedily apparent, in a well-stocked shop, 

 which he soon afterwards opened in a village not ten miles 

 distant from Dublin. 



In the Memoirs of the French National Institute,* a me- 

 moir is given, furnished by M. Mongez, concerning a Gaulish 

 sword, as he denominates one found in the bed of the river 



• Literature et' Beaux Arts, torn. V. 



